Migrants in Greece: the European failure
In order to get to Europe, many migrants fleeing war and persecution embark on a perilous journey through the Mediterranean. As The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reports, so far in 2020, 675 migrants died in the region. Those who are lucky enough to make it to the land, find themselves left to their own devices and receive no help from authorities. Majority of those who reach Europe arrive in the Greek islands, where thousands are stuck in overcrowded camps with limited access to sanitation and potable water. Now, a month after the biggest migrant camp on Lesbos island was destroyed in a fire, their situation is worse than ever. Despite the EU claiming to stand for equality and human rights, the Moria crisis is a clear example of how the EU’s migration policy fails to protect migrants.
EU’s deterrence and containment policies
Even though each year hundreds of migrants drown trying to get to islands in the Aegean Sea, in 2019 the European Union stopped sea patrols rescuing boats filled with migrants. Letting refugees die in the sea serves to discourage others from commencing the journey. The reasoning behind that is that if others realize how dangerous the route is, they will not want to risk it and will not try to get to Europe. What’s more, as many of the EU member states, for example, Poland, Hungary, or Austria, are reluctant towards accepting migrants, the EU has been trying to contain the refugee flow. By keeping them in Greece, it has been hoping to prevent the refugee crisis from spreading to other member states.
Instead of solidarity, compassion, and protection, the refugees arriving in Europe have to face inefficient administration and lengthy procedures. The Greek government has repeatedly reported it does not get enough support from the European Union to be able to support the camps. Hence, migrants often have to wait for months for someone to review their asylum application with the majority of the appeals still getting rejected. This forces migrants to permanently stay in what should be temporary settlements.
Moria camp before and after the fire
Home to 20,000 people, Moria Reception and Identification Centre was the biggest refugee camp in Europe. Since it was built to accommodate only 3000 people, the living conditions were so poor Moria was referred to as ‘The worst refugee camp on the planet’. The camp has even seen multiple suicide attempts by children as young as 7 or 8 years old. According to Médecins Sans Frontières, an organisation that provides refugees and other people excluded access to healthcare with medical help, in the main area of the camp there were 72 people per toilet and 84 people per shower. People would sleep in freezing cold tents on wooden palettes with basically no electricity. The area surrounded by razor wires became a symbol of suffering, abandonment, and hopelessness.
On 8 September 2020, fire damaged most of the camp leaving around 13 000 people without shelter. It is still unclear how the fire started, however it was likely caused by organised arson in the protest against COVID-19 restrictions. Now, those who fled the camp live in tents at the beach and have to use sea water to shower and wash their clothes. Food is distributed only once a day and with winter approaching the lives of the most vulnerable individuals are put at risk. If the situation of Moria refugees was bad before, now it can be described as a living-hell.
The EU’s response
Prior to the fire, UN Agencies have expressed their concerns about the situation people in Moria were living in. UNHCR urged both the Greek government and the European Union as a whole to address the inhumane conditions in the camp. However up until the fire nothing had been done to ameliorate them. Many thought that the fire would be a wake-up call for the EU member states, but unfortunately their reaction has not been an example of the European sense of solidarity. Countries are reluctant towards evacuating refugees from Lesbos and granting them asylum, and the new EU migration pact allows them to send back migrants more easily. More than half a million people have signed petitions demanding that the European leaders rescue people trapped on the Aegean Islands, but so far no such action has been initiated.
If the EU does not change its approach it will have to face more and more anger from the refugees who just want to finally feel secure. Moria is an example of how lack of cohesive migration policy can lead to serious problems. It is also an example of how those who arrive in Europe hoping to find refuge, are abandoned and deprived of dignity. The EU should not only promote values of cooperation, peace, and human rights but also take action to ensure that they are being respected in regards to every individual who finds themselves in the organisation’s territory.
